The Supreme Court justices are set to hold a private meeting Friday to decide whether they should hear same-sex marriage cases later on this year.

On Oct. 6, 2014, the nine justices handed down a non-decision decision, which upheld rulings that struck down gay marriage bans. As a result, gay marriage was legalized in 17 states, bringing the total to 36 states in the nation, reports Reuters.

Now, the justices will decide whether or not to hear five cases concerning same-sex marriage bans in Ohio, Tennessee, Michigan, Kentucky and Louisiana. Gay marriage advocates argue state bans on same-sex marriage violate the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of equal protection under the law.

If the court agrees to take one or more of the cases, they would likely hear the cases in the spring with a ruling due by the end of June.

In addition, a U.S. federal appeals court in the 5th Circuit is also scheduled on Friday to weigh on whether or not to strike down same-sex marriage bans in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Arguments over gay marriage bans in the three conservative southern states will be heard by a three-judge panel, reports Reuters.

Last week, a federal judge ruled all counties in Florida must issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples starting on Jan. 6.

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle issued an emergency order on Thursday stating court clerks must issue marriage licenses to gay couples once a stay expires on an earlier ruling that overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriage. According to the judge, his Aug. 21, 2014, ruling applied to all counties in Florida, not just Washington County, where two men were named as plaintiffs in the case.

Although the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage in Florida when it declined to extend a stay on Hinkle's decision, legal counsel to the clerks were unsure if the high court's order applied only to Washington County. As a result, they filed an emergency motion asking Hinkle to clarify whether or not they were required to wed all same-sex couples, or just the two men named in the lawsuit, according to Reuters.

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